« previous | MUCK HOME | next »
Former Rove Aide in on Senate Bypass Scheme?
Here's the email frequently cited in today's press reports where Alberto Gonzales' right hand Kyle Sampson, responding to a question about whether U.S. Attorney Bud Cummins should testify before Congress, says, "I don't think he should."
It's clear why Sampson thought so. As Justice Department official Michael Elston wrote, relaying his conversation with Cummins, if he testified, Cummins “would tell the truth about his circumstances.” The truth, of course, was that Cummins had been forced out in order to install Karl Rove's former aide Timothy Griffin in his spot -- something that Cummins knew because he had been told as much. And Sampson didn't want that, as he clearly illustrated.
How would Cummins answer, Sampson wanted to know, several uncomfortable questions? But there's one question in particular that raised even my eyebrows: "Did Griffin ever talk about being AG appointed and avoiding Senate confirmation?"
Sounds to me like Griffin was in on the scheme to have him installed by bypasssing the Senate.
In his two appearances before Congress, Cummins wasn't asked that question. But I know what my next call will be...
Update: I reached Cummins just now, and he replied (ever the Southern gentleman) with "My answer is a polite 'I don't want to talk about it.'... I don't want to appear to be in any way trying to injure Mr. Griffin's prospects as to whether or not he can serve as a U.S. Attorney." He did add, however, that he would answer that question if subpoenaed and put under oath before Congress.
Ed. Note: Thanks to TPM Reader tekel for catching this in the comments.
Comments (21)
Mooser wrote on March 20, 2007 1:43 PM:Is it possible the machine which picks the Google ads to appear on this site has a sense of humor?
Allan Rubenstein wrote on March 20, 2007 1:47 PM:High Blood Pressure, indeed!
Is there any question about why Rove wanted Cummins out other than he wanted his guy in? I heard somewhere that Cummins was investigated Gov. Blount of Missouri. Maybe that has something to do with his being fired.
tekel wrote on March 20, 2007 2:06 PM:w00t I'm famous! ha ha kidding...
Allan: Griffin is an opposition research specialist. He digs up dirt on Democrats and gives it to Rove, who uses it to smear people in elections.
So, to answer your question (and again, this isn't my original thought): Why would Rove possibly want to install someone experienced at digging up dirt on political opponents in an office vested with unchecked investigatory authority and the power to issue subpoenas in Arkansas before the 2008 Presidential election? Who do we know from the Democratic Party that might be running for Pres in 08... who also used to live in Arkansas?
Hint #1: it's not Barak Obama.
Hint #2: it's also not Edwards.
Hint #3: Her husband is famous for getting a blowjob in the oval office.
jdw wrote on March 20, 2007 2:14 PM:Pryor was just going off about Griffin.
melior wrote on March 20, 2007 2:16 PM:John
I was just struck by the irony of an attorney, a candidate for USA no less, demonstrating his deep knowledge of the discovery process by helpfully providing Congress with a list of questions he would prefer not be asked of his witness.
melior wrote on March 20, 2007 2:18 PM:Oops, should have said Griffin was a candidate for Rove's job, not USA.
tekel wrote on March 20, 2007 2:25 PM:Melior: Griffin is the acting USA in Arkansas, right now. The incriminating email is from Kyle Sampson. And I agree- I can't believe what a bunch of jerks these people are, and how stupid they have to be to put this kind of stuff in writing.
I'm convinced that the worst is yet to come out. Once I get out of class this morning, I can't wait to dig in again.
And I think the really juicy stuff is going to come from those outside email accounts. RawStory is saying that Conyers will subpoena Rove and Miers... will he also subpoena the emails from the non-government accounts?
Arkansan wrote on March 20, 2007 2:48 PM:The more I think about it the less I believe Hillary was the Griffin target. Ken Starr beat that horse dead a very long time ago. Additionally, the statute of limitations expired eons ago on any possible lead Griffin could dig up.
On the other hand, Wes Clark has a beautiful home in Little Rock. Perhaps he poses a significant enough threat to make him worthy of the interest of an unscrupulous investigator. The leak would only have to be that a “Grand Jury has been impaneled to pursue Clark’s dealings with……”
With all that said, my money is still on a Huckabee connection. It’s all speculation, but Huckabee is one lucky man that there is no AG around to hold him responsible for his crimes.
modthinglet wrote on March 20, 2007 3:06 PM:I don't know if you've seen it, but Griffin's explanation of the "caging" e-mails/voter purge lists is at Document set 2-6, bates number DAG 000000266. (Clearly believes in the massive voter fraud theory) An interesting article which provides republican officials explanations of the lists is also included.
elrapierwit wrote on March 20, 2007 3:14 PM:Based on the emails, it looks like Cummins was given notice before the other eight, because he has longstanding GOP ties and they knew he would cooperate with the strategy. Which entailed moving him out, while the assistant was on maternity leave, so that they could appoint Griffin before she could return and be considered.
These emails also seem to show who they are clearly jetissoning this go around as sacrificial lambs and likely never to have a GOP career:
Lam
Iglesias
Sampson
McNulty
Chiarra
That Chiarra is probably pissed today for being shown to be such a weasel. It is real clear that the GOP operates like the mob, even Chiarra said she was in a self-imposed 'witness protection program' which is why we have not heard one peep from her. Cummins and her will probably sing loudly when subpoened.
Even Arlen Spector has been outed with this batch of emails, for asking for them to write his talking points for a person he was investigating. We know if he asked that it has been SOP, all along during the GOP reign.
Griffin is probably going to intimidate every elected Dem in the state of ARK such that neither Bill or Hillary will be able to use their political operatives in terms of getting out the votes. After all Griffin is a kingpin at purging roles, particularly minority rolls and there are lots of poor minorities in ARK. Griffin even claimed that he had a ex-girlfriend from HS in the ARK office ...wonder why he did not even want a BI done on him for a senate confirmation. Bet, he is one of Tblossoms, bottoms?
Even Bill Cummins earned his stipes with the FL voter chads in 2000, so he was a good loyalist and has probably deduced that the GOP is a mob at this point who have corroded even the federal judiciary system removing all credibility.
lisainvan wrote on March 20, 2007 3:21 PM:Have a look at pdf file 7-9, pages 3ff and 16ff. Shows Griffin was talking with Cummins directly about arranging C's departure date and G's swearing in (with an admonition from DoJ not to contact the swearing in judge directly). The latter pages show that Griffin was secure in his appointment before he had even sent over a CV and been interviewed. Surely this must violate some sort of government hiring procedures (though I do know that targeted searches happen, the prospective hire is usually not arranging his start date). The key here is the dates on the emails. The date of the email sending the CV is two days after the email re Cummins stop date.
jimbo92107 wrote on March 20, 2007 4:01 PM:Bogus voter fraud claims, old charges dredged up, new charges invented...Sounds like the Cummins case has already been cracked.
Let's bear in mind that Cummins isn't there to obtain convictions. He's just there to make things "look bad" for Democrats until after it's too late for voters to find out the truth of his deceptions. As an AG, he's in perfect position to "investigate" whatever bogus charges he can think up against Dems, while letting his Republican pals slide on the real crimes. That's the M.O. of these creeps.
I can hardly wait for this politicizing scandal to start focusing on the AG's that Gonzo DIDN'T fire...
elrapierwit wrote on March 20, 2007 4:12 PM:The very nature of the specific emails dumped tells us who the GOP party has decided is to be sacrificed for this USA ousting. These folks will have an exceptionally difficult time obtaining jobs within the lucrative GOP operative systems.
These folks GOP careers are toast
Chiarra
Sampson
McKay
Lam
Iglesia
Mc
Cummins may ride this storm out because he has indeed been loyal by keeping his lips zipped up until the outing of Sampson's 'talkingpoints' to ask him under oath. I imagine Cummins and Chiarra will have lots to add to this unfolding corruption.
Cummins will still talk reluctantly as he has been a long time GOP guy and even worked on the FL voting chad issues as well as chairing stuff in the GOP. He is tethered and loyal yet seems to have some integrity and a true sense of when to tell the truth. He may have beleived in the justice system but is such in too deep politically to ever get out....sorta like the mob...when you are in you are in for life, until they decide you have to go...and execution style is the only termination option.
Cummins may be the canary that keeps on singing once he recognizes how difficult it is to salvage even his own career at this juncture. Chiarra, already noted she considered herself in a self-imposed 'witness protection program' so that she could keep her head about the financial water she is deep into.
Why did Griffin not even want a BI check done for Senate confirmation? What is this weasel hiding, talking about how is former girlfriend from HS worked in the Arkansas office. He is definitely going to be busy. I do not know what he has been tasked with but it would seem like tekel said he is going to dig up dirt on either HRC or WJC for the 'o8 elections. The clintons probably have some old political debts that would help with the election in that state and Griffin will probably make it impossible to use them. He will be able to investigate every single DEM in elected office in the state.
rice@gmail.com wrote on April 30, 2007 5:55 PM:hello
rice@gmail.com wrote on April 30, 2007 5:55 PM:hello
rice@gmail.com wrote on April 30, 2007 5:56 PM:hello
tonny@gmail.com wrote on May 1, 2007 6:29 AM:hello
harry@gmail.com wrote on May 5, 2007 4:52 PM:hello
harry@gmail.com wrote on May 5, 2007 4:53 PM:hello
harry@gmail.com wrote on May 5, 2007 4:53 PM:hello
FREE MUSIC DOWNLOADS wrote on October 7, 2007 11:03 PM:Hi, there!..909646c80483fda256a5389831c4677b